Lawsuit accuses Maker's Mark of falsely promoting its Kentucky bourbon as 'handmade'

A lawsuit accuses Maker's Mark of false advertising by promoting its Kentucky bourbon as handmade.

A suit filed in California by two residents there says the process of making the popular bourbon includes mechanized or automated steps requiring little or no human involvement.

Clarkson Hine, a spokesman for Beam Suntory, parent company of Maker's Mark, said Tuesday the claims are meritless and predicted Maker's will prevail in court.

The potential class-action suit claims damages exceed $5 million.

Maker's Mark bourbon is produced at a distillery outside Loretto, Kentucky. The brand is known for its bottles sealed in red wax.